Hi,
It's Giles.
This is a short piece for you to take time out with and reflect on.
A light-hearted story that points to something that's true for all of us.
As such,
There's no effort required while you're listening,
Only something to realise.
Something that can lead to profound,
Permanent change.
So get comfortable,
Relax,
And listen quietly for insight.
Managing the Stress of Life's Dramas Sometimes there's drama,
Isn't there?
I hear it,
Bubbling up in some other part of the house,
And when I get there,
If I have to pass that way,
It's fully formed.
A degree of care is required,
As its tentacles have a tendency to thrash around,
Trying to get a hold and drag me in,
Evoke drama in me.
But that just feeds the beast,
Makes it stronger.
And here,
I would like to state categorically that I am an actual saint,
And I'm proud to report this process never occurs on my watch,
And I am never the source of such drama.
Ever.
Nope,
No drama here.
But it's clear what the source of the drama is,
Always.
It's a story,
A preference created by the mind.
It has a very clear picture of how things should be,
And when the data coming in through the senses doesn't match that picture,
There's drama.
Nice and straightforward.
So what's the answer?
Well,
If you spot that the drama's bubbling up on your watch,
It's good to know it's just a story.
I mean,
Don't get me wrong,
It's a really convincing story,
And it doesn't look like a story.
And even listening to this,
It might be creating some drama just at the suggestion it's all a story.
But this is valuable information in itself,
Because then we can say that the times it's least likely to look like a story,
And most likely to look like rock-solid,
Deeply problematic reality,
Is when it's actually happening.
When there's drama.
Disappointing,
Maybe,
But at least it's consistent.
So we can learn to be distrustful of our convictions when we feel our own drama.
Have that little seed in the backs of our minds,
Maybe planted by this audio track,
Warning us that when there's drama,
Things might not be quite as set in stone as they seem.
An invitation to step back from the drama and regain our bearings.
Here you go,
Have an equation.
Drama equals distrust.
You're welcome.
So what about drama in others?
Well,
It's good to know that they're going through the exact same thing.
Their mind has got a preference for how things should be,
That's not being met by the data coming in through their senses,
And so there's drama.
Nice and straightforward.
And they won't be able to see that until they've regained their bearings.
I'm going to leave it there,
Otherwise my mind will stray into the territory of suggesting there's something you should do in these situations,
And that way madness lies.
No,
I reckon that if you keep your head when there's drama,
You'll know exactly what to do,
Right then and there.
It's a beautiful design,
With love,
Giles.
And as with all my talks,
A deeper appreciation for what I'm pointing to can be had with repeated listens.
You'll hear something different next time.
